Analysis
HTS 6406.20.00 covers outer soles and heels, of rubber or plastics under heading 6406 (parts of footwear (including uppers whether or not attached to soles other than outer…).
Within this group the rate runs from duty-free to 33.6%. Compared with 6406.10.25 (valued not over $3/pair), which pays 33.6%, a misclassification either way moves the duty by 30.9 percentage points.
The general duty rate is 2.7% of the customs value, which is at the low end of the rates in chapter 64 (17th percentile of 131 lines with an ad valorem rate). On a shipment valued at $10,000 that is $270 in duty before any Chapter 99 additions or preference claims.
The column 2 rate, for countries without normal trade relations, is 80%, 29.6 times the general rate.
Goods that qualify under GSP, the Australia FTA, the Bahrain FTA, the Chile FTA, the Colombia TPA, and 12 others can enter duty-free instead of paying 2.7%. It is also eligible under GSP, the developing-country programme, which Congress has to renew; check whether GSP is in force on the entry date.
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6406.10.05 | For men, youths and boys | 8.5% |
| 6406.10.10 | Of leather or composition leather: for other persons | 10% |
| 6406.10.20 | Of which over 50 percent of the external surface area (including any leather accessories or reinforcements such as those mentioned in note 4(a) to this chapter) is leather | 10.5% |
| 6406.10.25 | Valued not over $3/pair | 33.6% |
| 6406.10.30 | Valued over $3 but not over $6.50/pair | 63¢/pr. + 26.2% |
| 6406.10.35 | Valued over $6.50 but not over $12/pair | 62¢/pr. + 13.7% |
| 6406.10.40 | Valued over $12/pair | 7.5% |
| 6406.10.45 | Of which over 90 percent of the external surface area (including any accessories or reinforcements such as those mentioned in note 4(a) to this chapter) is rubber or plastics and not suitable to be finished into footwear (1) having foxing or a foxing-like band applied or molded at the sole and overlapping the upper, or (2) designed to be worn over, or in lieu of, other footwear as a protection against water, oil, grease or chemicals or cold or inclement weather | 6% |
| 6406.10.50 | Other: other | 26.2% |
| 6406.10.60 | Of rubber or plastics | Free |
| 6406.10.65 | Other: of leather | Free |
| 6406.10.70 | Of textile materials of which over 50 percent of the external surface area (including any leather accessories or reinforcements such as those mentioned in note 4(a) to this chapter) is leather | Free |
| 6406.10.72 | Uppers of which less than 50 percent of the external surface area (including any leather, rubber or plastics accessories or reinforcements such as those mentioned in note 4(a) to this chapter) is textile materials | 11.2% |
| 6406.10.77 | Of cotton: other (369) | 11.2% |
| 6406.10.85 | Uppers of which less than 50 percent of the external surface area (including any leather, rubber or plastics accessories or reinforcements such as those mentioned in note 4(a) to this chapter) is textile materials | 4.5% |
| 6406.10.90 | Other: other | 4.5% |
| 6406.90.10 | Other: of wood | 2.6% |
| 6406.90.15 | Of textile materials | 14.9% |
| 6406.90.30 | Of rubber or plastics | 5.3% |
| 6406.90.60 | Of other materials: of leather | Free |
| 6406.90.90 | Of other materials: other | Free |